Ten top places to take your date in London

You’ve gotten over the hurdle of asking that potential Mr or Mrs Right out and now need to decide where to take him or her for an impressive first date. In recent times, in addition to the typical question of “so, where did you two meet?” it is now also common for a couple to be asked “where was your first date?” It won’t do to respond with “we went for a few pints at the Rat & Mole pub off the high street.”

Let’s face it- people are incredibly hard to please these days. Thanks to films, television and social media everyone has been there, done that and have not only gotten the T-shirt, but have grown bored of wearing it. Using the ‘check- in’ feature on Facebook is now very common. This means that a person’s whereabouts is broadcasted to friends and acquaintances and these people can then enjoy the visit vicariously

In an attempt to help with the decision making process, here follows a list of places which in the writer’s humble opinion offers the wow factor for that first date. Some of them are places that the writer has been taken to on dates, and others that she would not mind being whisked away to.

If you have The Moves and are not averse to letting your feet do the talking when it comes to impressing your date, then you may want to try Floridita in the West End. The venue combines Latin American and Cuban inspired food and more rum than you could ever wish for, with live entertainment and a chance for the audience to take a turn on the dance floor. In their own words, Floridita Live “combines old world glamour and decadence of a by-gone era, with the cutting edge raw talent of today” Be warned however, there are usually some pretty decent dancers in there, so there is a good chance that you will end up being out-done on the dance floor by a twinkle toed Cuban.

Located in the Royal Festival Hall this bar and restaurant offers stunning panoramic views ofLondon, setting the scene nicely for your love story. You can dine at the restaurant or the more informal Grill, or just enjoy a glass of wine or two at the bar. Lapses in conversation can be filled with yet another remark about how amazing the views are. Thankfully this should then lead to at least another five minutes of conversation.

Located in the world famous Connaught hotel, enjoying a cocktail and good conversation at the Connaught Bar is sure to get the seal of approval from your date. Unless of course your date prefers The Rat & Mole, which is not necessarily a bad thing. TheConnaughtexperience is so much better if you are driven to the hotel rather than walking in off the street. If your budget dictates that you must meet your date at the nearest tube station (GreenPark, amongst others), the writer would recommend that you still take a hackney carriage* from the station to the hotel. The Connaught also has two delightful restaurants- Hélène Darroze at the Connaught and Espelette.

*(that is a black cab to you and me, however ‘hackney carriage’ sounds so much more fitting)

Who said a date had to involve dinner followed by drinks. Many a female heart can be won through the offering of cake, cream tea and conversation. There is also the added bonus that if the date goes well it can be extended into the evening, perhaps with a trip to the theatre.* Rather conveniently the West End is a hop and a skip away for that last minute (probably discounted) ticket. Spontaneous and romantic, two things guaranteed to make a date go well.

*(The cinema would do just as nicely- there are several nearby, including the Curzon for world cinema)

Camden certainly appears to be the borough of choice for opulent, themed restaurants.

Gilgamesh is a sumptuous pan-Asian restaurant whilst Shaka Zulu is the offering for South African cuisine. Both have amazing décor; Gilgamesh in tribute to the Babylonian era and Shaka Zulu a nod towards tribalAfrica. Both also have on-site VIP nightclubs; Gilgamesh Studios, which is open from 10pm to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, and The King’s Club, which is a members only club. Perfect if you and your date would like to chase your dim sum with dancing or your chakalaka with cocktails.

If these two privatemember clubs were to feature in US television programmes, Home House in Portman Square would be frequented by the old money Upper East Siders while Shoreditch House would be the favourite haunt for cool LA kids. For both clubs you will need to either be a member or go with a member. If the latter it is definitely worth pulling in a few favours from a friend who has membership. It’s like a secret club house for the wealthy and successful, and these clubs have everything from gym, spa, restaurant, bar, and garden to a library. The writer was very surprised at how unpretentious and utterly comfortable in their own skin the people there were. Home House has a cosy drawing room which literally invites you to curl up for a few hours in utter contentment, whilst Shoreditch has a fabulous rooftop pool which makes you want to jump in playfully and re-emerge gracefully (make-up intact), as they do in TV land.

The sky is the limit with this one; you could keep it fairly relaxed- bottle of wine and bag of Kettle Chips or go all out and pack a proper picnic. If the latter, ensure that the food you pack is fairly easy to consume, for instance, no great big pieces of chicken drumstick. Even with all the good intentions in the world, a chicken drumstick is not something that can be eaten in an elegant way. If the picnic must involve our feathery friends, chicken satay skewers are preferable. Also avoid strawberries or grapes, as they may inexplicably give your companion inappropriate ideas of feeding them to you in the foolish notion that this is romantic, and not at all awkward.

A relaxed atmosphere can make for a perfect date, and there are few things more relaxed than al-fresco drinks in the summer evening sun. This setting is great for a mid-week arrangement and also houses several bars clustered together; Mews of Mayfair is the writer’s particular favourite. If your date is a lady who appreciates the finer things in life, just make sure that you plan your route back to the station in advance, to avoid coming across the many designer shops in the area that might give her any ideas.

You will notice that this article is called “Ten Top Places...” rather than “Top Ten Places...” This is because the venues and locations listed are just some of the many and wonderful on offer, and are based purely on opinion. Of course there are also far cheaper options however the writer firmly believes that a first date requires something extra special. If that means spending more than usual, then so be it.